Neuromodulatory environment's role on the determination of rhythmic activity generation

Neuromodulators determine the activity and function of individual neurons and networks. When neuromodulators are removed, drastic changes of the neurons' and networks' activity occur. Yet, the networks can recover their activity to almost normal levels. as we have observed in the crab's stomatogastric ganglion (Luther et al, 2003). This seems to be also true in mammalian networks as suggested by work on the respiratory systems of rodents (see Golowasch, 2019). What mechanisms allow this to happen? We study this using the intact crab STG, STG cultured neurons and computational models.

References

1. Zhang, Y and Golowasch, J. (2007) Modeling Recovery of Rhythmic Activity: Hypothesis for the role of a calcium pump. Neurocomputing, 70: 1657-1662.

2. Haedo, R. and Golowasch, J. (2006) Ionic Mechanism Underlying Recovery of Rhythmic Activity in Adult Isolated Neurons. J. Neurophysiology, 96: 1860-1876.

3. Luther, J. Robie, A.A., Yarotsky, J., Reina, Ch., Marder, E. and Golowasch, J. (2003) Episodic Bouts of Activity Accompany Recovery of Rhythmic Output By a Neuromodulator- and Activity-Deprived Adult Neural Network. J. Neurophysiology, 90: 2720-2730.

4. Golowasch, J. (2019) Neuromodulation of central pattern generators and its role in the functional recovery of CPG activity. J. Neurophysiol. 122: 300-315. https://www.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/jn.00784.